Following protocol, Song Shi detailed the circumstances surrounding the incident before progressing to the next step—identifying the perpetrators.
"Do you recall how many people you killed?" The officer seated at the desk interlaced his fingers and fixed his gaze upon Song Shi.
As she reflected on the harrowing scene, she shook her head; she only remembered incapacitating numerous individuals but was uncertain whether they had died or merely sustained injuries.
The officer's partner, seated to his right before a blue light screen, tapped a few commands on his device, causing a projection to materialize before Song Shi.
Eight photographs of the deceased were neatly arranged in two rows. Their contorted bodies bore glaring fatal wounds, while the dark crimson blood beneath them rendered the background nearly colorless.
"Were you frightened at that moment?"
Song Shi lingered on each photograph for roughly five seconds, recollecting how she had plunged the knife into their bodies and how she had taken them down.
How could one not feel fear?
The sensation of a blade piercing human flesh differed immensely from that of stabbing a sandbag, and the feeling of blood splattering onto her face was far removed from that of warm water at 37 degrees.
"At that moment, I only wished to survive."
The two officers exchanged glances, and the one navigating the light screen switched to the next image.
This time, the photographs displayed living individuals.
Five were lying in a hospital, while the remaining three occupied the interrogation room's backdrop.
"Are these individuals also part of their group?"
Song Shi's gaze landed on the second-to-last photograph in the bottom right corner. It was Mao Rong, seated in the interrogation chair, hands clenched into fists as if in a fervent argument.
She pointed at the image. "She isn't."
Following her indication, the officer glanced down at the materials on the desk. "She claims you bound her as leverage against escaping that accomplice."
Song Shi nodded in affirmation. "What she said is true."
The image changed once more.
"Was the accomplice who fled her?"
Looking at the photograph, Song Shi recognized Yang Miao, clad in prisoner garb. The image reflected her younger self, appearing perhaps two or three years younger, her hair uncolored.
"It was her."
The officers received her confirmation and proceeded to switch to the subsequent image.
This time, the picture depicted Liu Shui-lin, who had been kicked under the sink.
"Did you also do this?"
Song Shi hesitated, "...Yes."
"His identity is somewhat unique; you may need to personally meet his guardian."
Taken aback, Song Shi pondered the implications. Was Liu Shui-lin truly the son of the captain's aide?
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, the table before her was lifted, and two officers guided her out of the interrogation room.
Arriving at an office with the door firmly closed, Song Shi spotted Liu Shui-lin approaching from another direction, still dressed in his morning attire, with two officers trailing behind him.
Upon catching sight of Song Shi, Liu Shui-lin resembled a mouse that had spotted a cat, hurriedly seeking refuge behind the officers.
One officer knocked on the office door. "Come in," a voice called from within. He pushed the door open and turned to Song Shi. "Miss Song, please enter."
Availing her gaze from Liu Shui-lin, she stepped into the office.
Navigating past the sofa in the reception area, she encountered a middle-aged man in a suit who placed his documents down, standing to greet her as he circled his desk toward the sofa.
He gestured subtly, prompting the two officers who had accompanied her to exit.
"Dad!"
Just as the officers were about to close the door, Liu Shui-lin burst in, bellowing as he lunged at the man.
With arms wrapped tightly around his father's waist, he wept profusely, "Dad! I never want to go back to that cursed school! They are ruthless! They aren't human! They bully me just for being honest… Dad…"
Song Shi could only stare in astonishment.
So, Liu Shui-lin had not lied—his father was indeed the captain's aide?!
Could it be he was a high-probability psychic differentiation candidate himself?
Wasn't it said that people with psychic abilities typically possessed enhanced intelligence? How could someone with such influential connections have fallen prey to Dai Ming and his associates?!
The middle-aged man struggled to pry his son off him, but Liu Shui-lin clung stubbornly, even smearing his tears and snot across his father's pristine suit.
Liu Father's typically stern face, often devoid of laughter, cracked with a hint of exasperation as he sighed deeply.
"Dad… I will listen to you; I won't abuse my power anymore. The people at the regulated school are devils. They want to kill me! When I don't comply, they beat me… Boo-hoo…"
Liu Father relented, "Alright, I understand. I'll get your expulsion finalized."
Finally loosening his grip on his father, Liu Shui-lin sniffled back tears, still too afraid to meet Song Shi's gaze, retreating a step to stand behind his father.
Straightening his suit, Liu Father looked at Song Shi with an air of refinement. "I've asked Miss Song here to convey my apologies."
"Shui-lin acts thoughtlessly, bullying classmates at other schools. Initially, I intended to enroll him in a corrective institution for a few days, but his nature proved too resilient; he learned to deceive, causing Miss Song quite an inconvenience."
Song Shi listened silently.
"I sincerely hope Miss Song can overlook his actions. If you desire any form of compensation, please feel free to ask. Liu will ensure you are satisfied."
His implication was clear—he sought a private resolution.
Given that this incident had escalated to the attention of Captain Wang Songjiang, and considering his son was now embroiled in it, Liu Father undoubtedly wished to pacify her.
Casting a knowing glance toward Liu Shui-lin, who was still hiding behind his father, Song Shi remarked with gravity, "Your child has also been used as a pawn, yet it appears I have not sustained any injuries from it."
The middle-aged man's eyes darkened.
"Appears?"
The presence or absence of injury was a matter of objective fact.
There was no mere appearance involved.
Song Shi's use of the word "appears" subtly implied she would observe how he handled the situation.
Her mention of Liu Shui-lin being manipulated suggested an inquiry into who had orchestrated it.
The answer was clear: Wang Danyu, the vice-captain.
Hence, if he failed to handle Wang Danyu's involvement properly, it would constitute harm; if he managed it well, then it would mean no injury had occurred.
In the past, he wouldn't have deemed the threat posed by a minor girl significant enough to warrant a personal meeting.
However, the situation had dramatically changed.
Wang Songjiang began leveraging this incident to target the corrupt elements within the city guard linked to the West Suburbs.
His son, who had been dragged into this turmoil by Wang Danyu, compromised his position.
Wang Danyu, knowingly cognizant of Liu Shui-lin's identity as the captain's aide's son, had orchestrated the entanglement purposefully to pull him down.
At this juncture, Song Shi's identification held particular significance.
As long as she refrained from asserting that Liu Shui-lin and the West Suburbs group had acted in concert, Wang Songjiang possessed a way to extricate Liu Shui-lin from this mess.
The more he contemplated, the more he recognized the weight of Song Shi's intentions.
Glancing back at Liu Shui-lin, still dabbing at his tears, his frustration flared.
In reality, Song Shi had not considered these complexities. She was unaware of Wang Songjiang's plan to cleanse the city guard and did not grasp the gravity of the moment for Liu Shui-lin's father.
When asked what form of compensation she desired, she instinctively hoped for his cooperation in undermining Wang Danyu's machinations, subtly expressing her wishes rather than articulating them outright.
(End of Chapter)